The World's Strongest Woodcutter

Is it you? Are you the one who's been calling me?

Philo?

Who are you?

Hey, Philo!

Eek! ...Oh, Aldo! What's with the surprise attack?!

Actually, I kept calling you but it seems you couldn't hear me.

Oh s-sorry.

You were just staring into space. Are you okay? Perhaps you're not feeling well.

Aldo... I think I'm actually sick!

Sick?! What's wrong? Do you feel like throwing up or something? Have you been to a doctor?

N-No, it's nothing like that. Something's just been off lately.

Off?

I hear a voice in my head from time to time. It's like somebody is calling out to me. And it gets louder every day...

Calling you? Who in the world could that be? And where even are they?

I can't say for sure, but most likely...

...It's coming from over there.

And where is over there?

The floating island with the Tree of Eternity. I can hear it calling all the way from there.

The Tree of Eternity huh? Come to think of it, weren't you found at the base of the World Tree?

Yes...

Right... Of course you're curious. I don't blame you.

In that case, let's go and check it out.

Wha? Over there?!

Yeah, I've actually been there before for other business.

No way! Then you have to take me too!

Alright. Well then, let's head off to the Tree of Eternity together.

So this is the World Tree? It's... HUGE. You can't even see to the top from here! This is so cool!!

Haha! You usually only see it from far away, huh.

Just looking at a tree this big makes me so excited!

Hey. You aren't thinking of trying to cut it down, are you?

No way! I've changed. A woodcutter cuts that which they must cut, and leaves untouched that which they must not. So yeah...

......

W-Well maybe I'll just hack off a tiny bit?

What?! No! Not even a tiny bit.

Hehe, I'm just kidding! It's just so magnificent and all, so...

......

Huh? Is something wrong, Aldo?

I was expecting you to say something. Hello? Can you hear me?

......

Huh? That voice... It wasn't Aldo.

Who are you...? Who's calling me?

That voice... It can't be...

Hey Aldo! The tree is talking to me...

Aldo?

I'm the only one? W-Why's that?!

I-I am you?!

I-I'm the World Tree?! I... I don't believe you!

How did you know?! I mean, I can't even pull a single blade of grass... But I thought that was one of the things I had to accept as the one protected by the World Tree...

So, that means I was never really a human?

But if that's true, why did you even make me?!

Who is "he"...?

Ahhhhh?!

Hrmph!

So... You're still standin' eh?... I'm Benedict, an ordinary woodcutter, and shall bring you down!

Waaaaaagh!!

Was that Master Benedict?!

Master Benedict... What in the world were you trying to do?!

You want me to embrace Master Benedict's memories?

So I'm supposed to pass down the will of my master, who tried to cut me down? In other words...

Philo?

Oh. Aldo?!

What happened? You were just staring off into space again..

Listen to this! I talked with the thing that was calling me...

I was like woah! This is crazy! And it turns out that... it was the World Tree!

Umm... That is a crazy thing to say...

...But yeah. I believe you.

You do?!

The fact that you can't cut down a tree and you were found at the base of the World Tree all makes sense. But why would the World Tree call you?

Well...

......

Philo?

Um, Aldo. Would you take me back to your time to where the World Tree is?

Sure. It's no trouble.

The World Tree in my time would be in the Rucyana Sands where the Dogma Tower was, I believe.

It's in a desert? What would the World Tree be doing in a place like that?

You'll understand once we get there. Alright, let's set out for the Rucyana Sands where the World Tree is.

So, are we supposed to find the World Tree here?

Yeah, if we keep walking we'll find it.

Cool! Let's hop to it!

So this is the World Tree in this age... Even though it's 800 years earlier, it's still so big! And this is... actually me, huh.

There's a lot of plants around here, but it's surrounded by desert. How did that happen?

How's it look Philo? You think you can put what you were wondering about to rest?

Umm... It seems like Master Benedict is nowhere to be seen. I wanted to ask Master directly about what he was trying to do.

A man swings his ax unrelentinglyyyy... Even if those swings are in vain...

A man swings his ax on and on... All to fell that tree... That accursed mighty treeee.

An accursed mighty tree? Hey, that song you just sung...

Hmm, no, no... It's just impossible to convey how great that man is. He's passionate, and he's driven to cleave away all trees...

Hey! Would you mind telling me about that song?!

Okay. It is the song of a man who often comes around here. Watching him challenging this gigantic tree day after day got me inspired.

Challenging this tree?! Could it be...

Did that person wear a blue-ish bandanna?!

He did. He wore a light-blue outfit with a matching cloth wrapped around his head.

Did he have these piercing eyes?

Why yes. In fact, they had a spark in them just as those of a hungry wolf...

Did he refer to himself as an ordinary woodcutter, perhaps?

Aye, that he did. Perhaps a dozen times.

No doubt about it, that's Master Benedict! He really did come here!

So Benedict tried to cut down the World Tree? Why would he do that...

There is but one reason why a brave warrior must fell a tree... You see, this tree is the cursed Tree of Woe.

The Tree of Woe?

Aye. Long ago, it was a blessed tree. Then, corrupted by a witch's incantation, the sapling became this Tree of Woe. Possessed by wicked magics, the tree withered the land and sucked up all life.

Are you saying that this tree is the reason this area became a desert? And it hurt many people? Maybe that's why Master Benedict tried to cut it... "me" down. It caused so much pain... In that case, I know what I must do to pass down the will of my Master...

Philo?

Aldo, do you remember when I, when this tree was still small?

When it was small? Probably in antiquity.

I think I finally get it. I know what I am supposed to do... Please... Please take me to where this tree is in that era!

Right... Okay, let's head to the Charol Plains.

Master Benedict, I will fulfill your wishes, no matter what!

You've grown again, haven't you? You definitely got a bit taller. B-But, I'll still protect you. Believe me. I am your big bro after all.

Hey, Aldo.

Hm, what's up? The World Tree sapling should be on the other side of that waterfall.

About that... Would it be alright if I went ahead on my own?

On your own?

Yeah...

I mean, come on! Meeting a little version of yourself is a bit embarrassing, right? Heheh...

I guess so...

All right, then. Take your time. Do what you have to do. I'll be waiting right here for you.

Thank you, Aldo. It shouldn't take long.

Philo...

Righto! Here I go! Don't you dare try peeking!

Okay, I'm off!!

......

Huh?! I hear footsteps... Who's that?!

This is it.

So this is the young me...

It's still small, but I can feel its power.

Looks like a worthy cut!

H-Hey! What are you trying to do to that tree?!

I'm going to chop this tree down. If I don't, many people are going to suffer in the future.

I-I don't know what you're talking about... But I can't let you do that! This tree is my little bro!

Your... brother? Who the heck are you?

No, it doesn't matter who you are. I won't let you get in my way. I promised myself I will fulfill Master Benedict's wishes...

I will cut myself down and finish my master's work!

Poh poh?! I w-won't lose!

Why would you go so far to cut down this tree...?

I don't know if you will believe me, but... This tree is me, I am the World Tree itself.

Poh?!

I am the fractured spirit of this tree. I came from the far future when this is the biggest tree in the world.

You're planning to cut yourself down? W-Why would you do that?!

Because only I can. Since I learned that my very existence has caused so much pain... I've got to be the one to stop this before it begins.

B-But then... If you do that, you'll...

Heheh. I don't know for sure, but yes, I'll probably fade away. But I was once taught that a woodcutter must cut that which he is meant to cut. Heheh.... I may be a newbie, but I'm still a woodcutter.

And now... I'm going to cut down the thing that I am meant to cut!

Ngh!

This is my first... and final... job as a woodcutter! With just one blow...my life will...

Heheh... Finally, I've managed to cut a tree down... Too bad Grandpa and Grandma didn't get to see it... I'm sorry, Grandpa. I'm sorry, Grandma...

Poh...

Wh-Why?! Why would you risk your life to stop me?!

I know that this tree... might hurt many people in the future... But in the far future, it could possibly bring many more people great happiness.

You can't know that for sure!

I do!

B-Because... Within this tree is just one thing... hope!

Hope?

We planted this tree together. My mom, dad, and I. And I always prayed that this tree would bring happiness to the lives of many people in the future...

......

This tree... I mean... You are filled with my family's hopes for the future...

When you put it like that...

No, it's not only our hopes...

This tree is going to be the heart of people's lives, surrounded by their hopes and dreams. But if you reject yourself like this... all of that will disappear along with you...

......

So please... Think about everybody's hopes...

The truth is...

I want to live! I don't want to disappear!

I want to stay here with Grandpa, Grandma... Aldo, and Master Benedict!

Yes, yes... that's right.

Waaaah... *sob* Big bro...

Are you feeling better now?

*sniff* Yeah... Heheh... thanks. Well, there's someone waiting for me. I better go now.

All right... Come back to visit sometime.

Yeah, I'm sure I'll be back again.

Alright, I'm off now. Bye, big bro.

......

Big... bro...

Po-poaaah!

Philo!

Heheh... I'm back.

I was starting to get worried. You really did take your time, huh!

I'm sorry... But I took care of something.

I see, well that's good. I'm glad you made it back safe. So, what now?

Well...

Right now. I have to report back, so let's head back to the Tree of Eternity in the future!

So, Philo. You are the World Tree itself, right? That's wicked!

Heheh, I still don't quite feel like it though...

So is it true? Are you me...?

About that... I'm sorry but I couldn't do it! I just couldn't cut myself down!

A woodcutter cuts that which they must cut, and leaves untouched that which they must not. That is what I concluded from Master Benedict's memories. So... I'm sorry!

...What?

Well... Master Benedict was seriously trying to cut me down, wasn't he?

So wouldn't it make sense for me to assume that passing down his will means to cut myself down as he wanted?

Huh?! Wait, I don't get it! How can you even think that he was expressing his affection with that threatening look on his face?

I can imagine him doing that... Or perhaps he was carefully studying you as he prepared to cut you down!

But anyway... Are you saying that it's completely unnecessary to cut myself down?

Okay, and this Master Benedict's will that you wanted me to pass down was...?

Well, Master Benedict and I did get to know each other through an ax. So... don't be so hard on yourself. Give "me" a break!

That's because I was raised by Grandpa and Grandma. Both of them loved me like I was their own...

But I still don't understand what Master Benedict said. It's way too deep! Why are the words "World's Strongest Woodcutter" still lodged in my memory? Master Benedict was just an ordinary woodcutter...

What?! Really?! What was going on in his past?

Philo?

Whoa what the heck is this! Where did it come from?!

It's Master Benedict's ax! The World Tree gave it to me...

Master Benedict's? Look how battered up this thing is. He must have tried so hard to chop me down. He really wanted to cut me down once he realized I am the Tree of Woe, huh?

He was the same man who tried to cut down a lighthouse, remember? Probably the tree was the most worthy thing to cut down in that age.

Hmm...

Now that you mention it, that does certainly sound more like Master Benedict!

Okay! Enough with these depressing thoughts! I've made a decision...

I'll continue to pass down Master Benedict's will!

This ax doesn't look like it can really be used anymore but I will always cherish it!

Besides...

Master Benedict's teachings still live within me!

Cutting that which you must cut, and leaving untouched that which they must not?

Yup! Now that that's settled, my new target is...

Ngh... You're not going to say "to split the world into two!" or something, are you?

Come on, Aldo! Why would I say something like that?

My new target is...

Anyone who tries to get in your way, Aldo! Heheh... We're friends after all!

Y-Yeah... You've changed, Philo. What happened?

Well...the truth is...

I'm not gonna tell you!

What?!

Heehee! I've got a secret or two! Trust me.

I've really enjoyed standing side by side with you.

I'm not really sure what's going on... But I'm glad that you have finally come out of your shell.

You'll do a good job, Philo. I know it.